The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-08
The Money To Be Expended, Under Direction
Of the War and Navy Departments, for
Ordnance and Coast Fortifcations.
A Caustic Response to the Presidents
Demagogy in the Matthews Case.
Urgent Need of Legislation Relieving Congress
from Consideration of Private Claims
General Washington News.
GUNS AND FORTS.

The Senate Passes Measures Appropriating
Twenty Million Dollars.
Special to tie Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Feb. THE Senate in about
five minutes without word of debate, and no
questions asked, passed two bills this afternoon
which appropriate $40. 100000 for the national
defense. The money ia to be expended for guns
and Notifications under the direction of the Sec
retaries of the Navy and War 1t is wesl-con-
sidered measure, however. and is the result OF
the work of the joint commission appointed by
the last Congress, of which Senator Hawley was
chairman. They studied the question at length
and took several hundred pages of testimony
from experts These bills reported to the
House and Senate both at the last session, but
there is considerable doubt as to whether the
former will agree to the amount appropriated.
There is now bill in conference which appro-
pirates about $4,000 600 for rehabilitating our
coast Notifications. and there is small prospect
of agreement The difficulty is not whether We
shall have coast protection but what sort of pro-
lection it shall be. There are half q dszcn fHeE
with designs which they want adopted, and no
one of them merit in the plans of the
other. They are clamoring around the commit
tee room, and simply trip each other up.
The first of the bills passed by the Senate is
as follows:
"That the Secretary of War be, and hereby is,
authorized to make contracts with responsible
| steel manufacturers after suitable advertise
ments, to continue not less than thirty days. in
newspapers most likely to reach the manufactur-
| ers addressed, for the supply of rough-bo bored,
rough turned and tempered steel in forms suita-
BILE for heavy ordnance adapted to modern war;
| fare, and STEEL finished, for armor and other
army purposes, in quantity not to exceed 10. 600
! gross tons, in quality and dimensions conform
| ing to specifications, subject to inspection and
| tests at each stage of manufacture, and includ-
| ing all the parts of each caliber specified: pro-
| vided that no money shall be expended. except
| for steel accepted and delivered; that each bid
! der shall contract to erect in tho United States
| suitable plant, including the best modern ap
pliances capable of making all the steel required
1 an! of finishing it in accordance with the con-
tract and agreeing, in the case of an ordnance
contract, TO deliver yearly specified quantity
| of each caliber, the time of delivery of the
| smaller calibers to commence at the expiration
OF not more than eighteen months. and that Of
the largest caibers at the expiration of not more
than three years from the date of the acceptance
of the contract and that all the forgings shall
| be manufactured in the United States.
Sec 2. That the Secretary of War be. and
hereby is. authorized to erect at the Watervliet
| Arsenal, West Troy, n. Y, an army gun fac
| tory in accordance with the report of the gun
foundry board of Dec. 20, 1884, for floehing and
assembling the guns adapted to modern warfare
up to ana including the largest approved sizes,
! and for the manufacture Of gun-carriages and
| ordnance equipment for the army at cost not
| to exceed one million dollars.
''Sec. }. That. for the purposes of the FORE
going sections, the sum of So. 600, 900 is hereby
| appropriated out of any money in the treasury
| not otherwise appropriated. to be available dur
| ing six years from Jan. l, 1897
| Sec 4 That. for the purpose of the con-
| struction of Notifications and other works of
| coast defense, such as masonry and earth work
| foundations for turrets, casemates and maga-
| zines, submarine mines and galleries. exclusive
of armor in accordance with the recommends
tlons of the board of fortifcations or other de-
| fenses. appointed by the President of the
United States under the provisions of the act Of
Congress approved March 3, 1885, So. 600, 600, to
| be expended under the direction of the Secre-
tary of War, is hereby appropriated
The other measure is the bill to encourage the
manufacture of steel for modern naval ordnance,
armor, shafting and other naval purposes, and
to provide heavy ordnance adapted to modern
naval warfare. This bill is like the other in al
important particulars. except that the gun fac
| tory is to be at the Washington navy yard, and
that the fourth section of the other is omitted